Pay gap between male and female accountants widens

The pay gap between male and female accountants has increased by an average of £1,000 a year for the first 10 years of their career, according to new research.

After 10 years the pay difference is £26,000, the research from accountancy and finance recruiter Marks Sattin also found.

Male accountants consistently earn more than women, with a gap of £6,433 gap just two years after qualification. By 10 years, the gender pay gap widens to £10,098. Beyond 10 years’ experience, the salary gap between male and female accountants reaches £26,064.

The gap between male and female accountants’ pay in the first 10 years after qualifying increased by £2,028 in the past year. But there are some signs of progress when it comes to the number of women in senior positions in business.

The proportion of women in senior positions among the Big Four firms shows 22% of the European and UK board positions are held by women. This is an 8% increase from 2012.